Persepolis & Persepolis 2

by Marjane Satrapi
Pantheon Books, 2004 & 2005

These two books are coming-of-age tales based on the live of the author. What I really enjoyed about them is the sprinkles of light humor and the insight into Iranian society. 

When a film was made based on these two books, I was really excited and wanted to watch it. I don't know why the Iranian government would get upset about the film, because having read the books, I found so much humanity in the story. Or maybe it's the deviation from the government's strict code of conduct.  

I really recommend these two books as right now, I can't think of any other picture book in the Western publishing world that provides such a humane, touching and wonderful insight into what it means to be an Iranian living in the Western world. 

The first book deals with her childhood, while the second book deals with her youth as an Iranian returning to her country for the first time after spending some time away in France.